Latest stories
Animal testing should be banned | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
Staff Writer Kylie Ting explains how animal testing is immoral and inaccurate, and provides alternatives to it.
Model UN sucks | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains why Model UN does not help with public speaking and critical thinking skills as much as it advertises.
Public Speaking is Better than MUN | Emily Liao – Grade 10
Staff Writer Emily Liao offers insight on why public speaking is better than Model United Nations for high school students.
Why you can’t trust anything on social media | Kylie Ting – Grade 11
Staff Writer Kylie Ting discusses reasons why social media is untrustworthy, and how we should always be wary of the content we consume.
I am a helpless people-pleaser. Here’s why you shouldn’t be. | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains how it’s easy to fall into a cycle of people-pleasing, and how it’s harmful to oneself.
Why I’m a better person than you because I don’t procrastinate | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang tells you why she doesn’t procrastinate because she has better self-control and why you should learn from her.
3 reasons why group projects suck | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
Staff Writer Jewel Chen explains why group projects are inefficient, a waste of time, and unfair to students.
Why do social media platforms ruin themselves? | Felix Tsai – Grade 12
Senior Staff Writer Felix Tsai talks about the decline of major social media platforms and calls for user awareness and accountability.
Barbie Review | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu writes a review for the popular movie Barbie, offering insight and analysis on the film.
How to deal with backstabbing friends at school | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 9
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen shares tips on how to deal with backstabbing friends using her own experiences in real life.
How to get along with younger siblings | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff Writer Kylie Ting shares her experiences with her younger brother, and discusses how she learned to get along with younger siblings.
Why you should journal | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang explores the benefits of journaling, which include expressing feelings, self-reflecting, and preserving memories.
Gossip is beneficial for students | Emily Liao – Grade 10
Staff Writer Emily Liao explores the reasons why gossip is beneficial for students, particularly in terms of building social relationships.
Stop telling me to lose weight | Jewel Chen – Grade 11
Staff Writer Jewel Chen shares her personal experience of being body-shamed and emphasizes the importance of self-confidence in one’s body.
Top 5 Korean dramas | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Having watched over 70 K-dramas, Associate Editor Kate Huang gives her top five K-drama recommendations and explains why she likes them.
Taiwan needs to talk about body dysmorphia | Chloe Hsu – Grade 12
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu shares her experience with facing body dysmorphia, and how this reflects on Taiwan’s attitude toward the subject.
Applying to college as an Asian American | Kate Huang – Grade 11
Associate Editor Kate Huang explores the debate around on Asian Americans are affected by affirmative action.
Is the 108 Curriculum good or bad for students? | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff writer Zoe Chen discusses both the pros and cons of the national curriculum of Taiwan—the 108 curriculum.
Shut Down All Zoos | Victor Lu
Senior Writer Victor Lu explains the issues with zoos, advocates for their closure, and proposes alternatives to zoos.
Paper straws won’t solve plastic pollution | Felix Tsai – Grade 12
Senior Writer Felix Tsai explains the issue of plastic pollution, primarily caused by oil companies, and proposes solutions to reduce it.
Stop fearing failure | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Teenagers in Taiwan fear failure. They view success as the most important thing in the world whereas failure is something they should try their best to avoid. Teens fear failure so much because parents and teachers teach them that they have to be perfect. This fear of...
Top-ranked schools are more stressful | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff writer Zoe Chen shares her experiences as a current student in a top-ranked school, and how it’s more stressful.
Taiwanese education hampers critical thinking | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Taiwanese people, both parents and students, are heavily invested in education. According to reputable sources like the National Center of Education, Taiwan is one of the top-performing countries in terms of education. Taiwan’s academic performance, especially in...
All teens should have internet access | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff writer Kylie Ting explains why parents should give their teens internet access, instead of limiting it like many do.
Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu discusses why it’s essential to know the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation.
Is this generation raising weaker children? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen explains how the older generation tend to think the younger generation is weaker and how that is not the case.
Why studying at a girl’s high school is awesome | Jewel Chen – Grade 10
Staff writer Jewel Chen writes about her experience in an all-girls high school, and explains how attending this type of school is awesome.
Why is it so hard to apologize? | Kylie Ting – Grade 10
Staff writer Kylie Ting explains why apologizing is so hard, and emphasizes that despite its difficulty, it’s an essential thing to do.
The case of teenage jealousy | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains teenage jealousy: what it is, who it truly affects, and how to defeat it.
Book review: And the Mountains Echoed | Victor Lu
Senior Writer Victor Lu rates Khaled Hosseini’s epic novel, And the Mountains Echoed, in terms of its plot, settings, and themes.
“Wolf pack” mentality is stupid and dangerous | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
Senior Writer Felix Tsai explains the dangers behind the “wolf pack” mentality and the problematic “alpha male” ideology.
How should parents deal with their teens’ social lives? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Kira Lei Chen explains how parents should support teenagers to develop their social lives, and communicate with them when needed.
Four reasons why high school sucks | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Associate Editor Kate Huang talks about how the feeling of inadequacy, stress, drama, and judgement make high school an unpleasant experience.
Introverts and success | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Conventional wisdom assumes that an extrovert, an outgoing and outspoken person, makes for an ideal leader, and is thus more likely to be successful than the opposite: the introvert. There are plenty of studies that support this idea. For example, extroverted people...
Extroverts and success | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains the correlation between extroverts and success and whether extroverts can achieve success easier.
Why parents should not be overprotective to their kids | Victor Lu
Every parent considers their kid the most important thing in the world, and parents try their best to ensure kids are living carefree and safely. However, some parents become overly involved in their kids' lives. These overprotective parents shield kids from danger,...
Why do we make powerful AI when it scares us so much? | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
The first-ever use of the word “robot” was in the 1920 play Rossum's Universal Robots by Karel Čapek, where humanoid automatons toiled as unpaid labourers for their human overlords. The robots’ eventual revolt and extermination of the human race was used to explore...
How teenagers can achieve work-life balance | Victor Lu – Gap Year
Senior Staff Writer Victor Lu draws on his experiences and offers advise for teenagers to achieve work-life balance.
Systemic racism against migrant workers in Taiwan | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
Editor-in-Chief Chloe Hsu explains the systemic racism that migrant workers — who are mostly from Southeast Asia — have to face in Taiwan.
You should read web novels. Here’s why. | Felix Tsai – Grade 11
Senior Staff Writer Felix explains that we should all read web novels, and that they are a great alternative to physical copies of books.
Stigma around mental health | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Stigma around mental health Millions of people are affected by mental issues every year, yet more than half do not receive treatment. This is due to a stigma surrounding mental health that makes speaking out about personal mental struggles immensely difficult. People...
Private school survival tips | Charlotte Lin – Grade 10
Staff Writer Charlotte Lin provides study and friendship-related tips for transfer students who are adapting to new school environments.
Helpful apps for students | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Staff Writer Zoe Chen provides a list of helpful apps students can use to help them use their devices responsibly.
Formosa 900: My bike trip around Taiwan | Victor Lu – Gap Year
Cycling is my passion. It allows me to connect with others, trains my stamina, and is a way to relax and blow off steam. I always look forward to visiting new places on my bike, and one of my most exciting trips was biking around my beautiful homeland: Taiwan. When I...
Do STEM subjects offer better career opportunities? | Kate Huang – Grade 10
If you’re a student struggling to choose between studying STEM subjects, non-STEM subjects, or both, this article is for you. STEM – an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – is the group of subjects most people regard as better...
Clubs students should join in junior high | Zoe Chen – Grade 8
Joining a club is a way for students to take a break from studying. Clubs allow students to choose a class according to their liking and be devoted to it. Some people may want to use this period to be productive and increase their knowledge, while some want to join...
Why Taiwanese students are not getting enough sleep | Charlotte Lin – Grade 10
According to the Children Welfare League Foundation, Taiwanese students sleep 6.9 hours a night on average when they should be sleeping at least eight hours every night. The reason why students stay up late is mainly due to heavy school work loads. To make matters...
My virtual internship with non-profit organization SERVE | Chloe Hsu – Grade 11
This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in an online internship program hosted by Virtual Internships. As the name suggests, I interned at a company for four weeks, with a group, entirely online. The category of the company I chose was Social-Impact...
Do parents know what their children need in their studies? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 8
The answer is no. Parents think that they know what their child needs, but in reality they are forcing their child to become something that the parents want, molding their child into the perfect student who is a prodigy in class. This is actually the most ineffective...
Why people don’t like being called feminist | Kate Huang – Grade 10
Associate Editor Kate Huang talks about why people don’t like being called feminist. She breaks down the misconceptions about feminism and explains the true meaning of it.
5 best riverside bike paths in Taipei | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Senior staff writer and avid bike rider Victor Lu catalogs some of the best cycling paths along Taipei’s riverside.
Should you be worried about anti-Asian hate when you visit America? | Kate Huang – Grade 9
Yes, anti-Asian hate is real. On March 16, 2021, a white man shot and murdered eight people, six of whom are Asian women, in three different spas across Atlanta. A 67-year-old Asian woman was stomped on and punched more than 125 times in New York City after being...
Schools should teach students about money and financial education | Kate Huang – Grade 9
There is one subject that will be useful throughout your entire life, but schools rarely teach you about it – money. While money seems like a topic that isn’t a concern in your teenage years, starting your financial education early is beneficial for your...
Casual homophobia in Taiwan | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
May 24, 2019 was the day Taiwan made history by becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. This was proof that Taiwan is one of the most progressive countries in Asia, and also proof that same-sex marriage has broad support with the citizens....
Drugs aren’t a crime, it’s an illness | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
In June of 1971, American President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse "public enemy number one" and kicked off the War on Drugs, a continuation of drug prohibition policies in the U.S., which prohibited the production, distribution, and consumption of drugs. Worse...
Why teenagers need art therapy | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Teenagers have to deal with academic stress, extracurricular activities, problems with their social lives, and expectations from both their parents and teachers. Because of all this, 20 percent of teenagers suffer from at least one mental health disorder. Because some...
Pros and Cons of food delivery apps | Una Chuang – Grade 10
On a hot, steamy summer day, with lunchtime approaching, what would you do: dress up and head out to buy groceries, get gross and sweaty, or chill at home, pull out your phone, and put in a quick and easy order on UberEats? As we are a generation spoiled by the...
Tips for dealing with common insecurities | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
If there was one word I could use to describe everyone in the world, it’d be insecure. Everyone has insecurities. Even the most confident people in the whole wide world do. It is human nature to want to be better, and this means people often obsess over parts of...
Harry Potter isn’t as good as when you read it as a kid | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
Everybody remembers Harry Potter, if not for the fond memories of the magical world of flying broomsticks and messenger owls, then for it being the highest selling series ever. Its movie adaptations are nothing to scoff at either, with a total gross of $7.7 billion in...
How students can improve relationships with their teachers | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Teachers are central to education. They guide students in their lessons and cultivate passion for learning. Because teachers are supportive in students’ education, it is vital for students to build positive relationships with their teachers, and good teacher-student...
Homeschooling and why it is better than normal schools | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 7
Homeschooling is an education system for students that do not fit into ordinary education systems such as traditional public schools. Homeschooling helps every individual student because the student’s curriculum is custom-made and chosen to fit what the student needs....
Sexism in the education system | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
Sexism in the education system? Didn’t we leave sexism back in the 1900s? We did, but we also didn’t. Sexism has always been something people are sensitive to, and women have long strived for gender equality. While nowadays, things are much better than a few decades...
Schools should pay more attention to student mental health | Kate Huang – Grade 9
When you see a student going up the stairs on crutches, you will give them a hand. However, when you see a depressed student in your class, you ignore the possibility that they are suffering from mental illnesses, assuming that they’re simply having a bad day....
Are cram schools for kids, or are they really for parents? | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 7
Almost every single student in Taiwan has been to a cram school, regardless of their age and their abilities. Cram schools, called buxibans, are part of the modern day Taiwanese culture, and without it the Taiwanese education system wouldn’t be what it is today....
Ad blockers, good or bad? | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
Ads are annoying. That is something that everybody, even the guy that invented pop-up ads, can agree on. Ads crowd the page when browsing through articles, get in the way when scrolling through Instagram, force little ten-second gaps when watching YouTube, and...
6 lessons I learned doing my college applications | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Twelfth grade is stressful. Most students have to apply for college, maintain their grades at school, and deal with tremendous pressure from both, especially from college applications. However, the college application process is still a valuable opportunity for...
Pro-life is anti-woman | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
Abortion is one of the most controversial debates of all time. Both sides of the debate have raging enthusiasts willing to fight for their side of the argument. I, as someone who is pro-choice, believe that “pro-life” is anti-woman. But first, what are the two sides?...
Are big corporations evil? | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
McDonalds, Starbucks, Amazon, and Apple are all big corporations known around the globe. While these corporations provide us with convenient services and high quality items, they are also infamously known for doing things that are viewed as “evil”. For example, tax...
6 hiking attractions in Taipei | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Trekking on the hills along the riverbanks, enjoying the magnificent scenery, and feeling the joy of reaching the summit are all valuable moments of a hike. While there are many places for hiking, Taipei is a great choice for it because the city is surrounded by...
Getting vaxxed in the US | Cynthia Lin – Grade 10
Last year, Taiwan experienced an outbreak of COVID-19. We had our classes online, and of course, stayed at home for quarantine. No one was vaxxed and there were few vaccines in Taiwan. In addition to staying home, due to the international status of Taiwan, it was...
Taiwanese Law Should Protect LGBTQ Kids In Schools | Kira Lei Chen – Grade 7
Taiwan was the first Asian country to legally acknowledge LGBTQ couples and has a history of strong support for LGBTQ rights. The country passed laws that protect and allow LGBTQ couples to wed. However, discrimination in Taiwan still keeps popping up everywhere, and...
Taiwan should abolish “The Test”: ‘HuiKao’ | Una Chuang – Grade 10
Taiwanese junior high students have three years to prepare for a high school entrance exam, called the HuiKao, which I will refer to as “The Test”. Students are tested on academics learned in middle school, and apply to schools according to the scores they get. You...
How Englist changed my life | Victor Lu – Grade 12
When I first started learning writing, I sat at my desk and stared at my writing task, unwilling to jot down a word. Expressing my thoughts has long been an arduous task for me. To make things worse, my high expectations for myself have also placed enormous pressure...
Stop worrying about how popular you are | Una Chuang – Grade 10
Popularity is a big part of students' lives. Being popular determines how many friends you have, how many people would like to work with you, and how easy it is to ask for help. This fact motivates students to pay attention to how noticeable they are and how to make...
What Taiwan should learn from its COVID-19 domestic outbreak | Victor Lu – Grade 12
Taiwan’s COVID-19 situation became a nightmare during the past few months. In mid May 2021, domestic cases boomed with most cases found in Taipei. Within a week, the capital suddenly became the worst-hit area of Taiwan. Cases emerged in other areas within a few weeks...
Pro Gaming is hard | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
Getting paid millions to play video games sounds like the easiest job there is. Now, with professional gaming and esports on the rise, getting paid for playing games all day is no longer a pipe dream. However, is gaming for a living really as good as it sounds? Health...
Reasons for applying for UWC | Cynthia Lin – Grade 10
Imagine having royalty from England, Jordan, Spain, Netherlands, Holland, or Belgium as alumni. You must think that this school is for royalty, or at least, an expensive school that barely anyone can afford, right? The reality is the high school they attend has people...
You shouldn’t care what boys think | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
Since the first time monkeys came out of trees, teenage girls have craved attention from boys. Girls love it when boys notice and like them, whether in a friendly way or a romantic way. They care about what boys think. In this context, I probably shouldn’t be using...
Body-shaming goes both ways | Chloe Hsu – Grade 10
Body shaming is common nowadays. You can see it on social media, or even in real life. There are many types of body-shaming, but today I will be focusing on fat- and skinny-shaming because they are the most common. Body shaming is when someone mocks you for your body...
The power of online communities | Felix Tsai – Grade 10
The internet is probably the single most important piece of infrastructure in our current world, with over 50 percent of the world’s population having direct access to the internet. It is one of our best sources of information, and especially with the recent pandemic...
Problems with education in rural Taiwan | Victor Lu – Grade 11
Education helps people to get high paying jobs, become better citizens, and enjoy higher quality lifestyles. In 2015, the United Nations proposed 17 sustainable development goals, one of which is quality education. Although education plays a crucial role in society,...
Why single gender schools are a bad idea | Edwina Tong – Grade 8
When it comes to choosing schools, parents consider whether they should send their kids to single gender schools or not. However, parents do not know that separating boys and girls in school may harm kids in ways that may not be noticeable. So obviously, kids...
Cramming, tests, and homework are a cancer on Taiwanese students | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11
Students in Taiwan have to face a ton of tests and assignments every day; the cramming system students learn is making them suffer from pain and killing them. Cramming, tests, and homework are a cancer on Taiwanese students. Too much work and pressure leads to...
Debate: Why students should date in high school | Cynthia Lin – Grade 9
Most parents will forbid their kids from dating due to an assumed negative impact on grades. On average, teenagers find their first love at the age of 17, when kids are still in high school. Students should date because dating has lots of benefits, such as emotional...
Debate: You shouldn’t date in high school | Una Chuang – Grade 9
Everyone agrees that it is impossible to stop teens from dating, especially when they are infatuated and blinded by hearts all over the place. It is common to hear them say, “no matter what age we’re in or how young we are, true love is true love, and we are...
Racism in Taiwan | Sidney Chen – Grade 9
Taiwan is known as a very foreign friendly country, and by “foreign” I mean white people. Taiwanese people love to see visitors around and welcome them. But when it comes to Southeast Asian or black people, many Taiwanese people give weird looks. This is ironic...
Schools should teach more sex education | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9
I’m sure everyone has at least has had one class of sex education in their lives before. It could be in a health class or in a lecture from the teacher because someone got pregnant. But have you ever realized that those classes were never detailed enough? At least...
Pick-me girls: an explainer | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9
What is a pick-me girl? This term comes up a lot, especially in recent social media. But what does this mean? A pick-me girl is broadly just any girl who claims or acts as if she is unlike most other girls, in order to gain attention from boys. They say they’re...
Opinion: Delete your insta | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11
As Instagram has started to dominate social media and become the most used social network, it has become one of the biggest platforms where teens and celebrities from around the world upload their stories and share their lives. There are tons and tons of people...
Participating in the Taiwan Geography Olympiad | Victor Lu – Grade 11
As I have explored human cultures and their long histories, I have become fascinated by geography. Why does a specific group find itself on the Mongolian Steppe or in the valleys of Peru? How have their cultures developed in relation to those around them? How has...
Opinion: Why Taiwanese parents prefer private school over public | Cynthia Lin – Grade 9
Parents love their kids, so they always want to give their kids the biggest advantage, especially when it comes to school. In Taiwan, many parents prefer private school over public school because private schools tend to be better for the future prospects of their...
The damaging effects of bullying | Edwina Tong – Grade 7
Bullying can affect everyone—those who are bullied, those who bully, and those who witness bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative outcomes including impacts on mental health and suicide. Bullying will bring permanent trauma to both the bully and the victim....
4 benefits students get from working part-time jobs | Una Chuang – Grade 9
Many students wonder if they should start working while they are in school. They think, “It would be awesome to start saving, but my friends would rather chat on Insta and watch YouTube. Would working help me? Or is it just a waste of time?” Working does benefit...
The dumbest school rules | Felix Tsai – Grade 9
Schools are in charge of passing on important knowledge to students that they will need for the rest of their lives. To do this effectively and efficiently, schools use a wide array of regulations and rules to make sure students learn well and can focus on their work....
Op-ed: Private schools shouldn’t exist | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9
What does it take to go to a private school? You might say you need to be smart or hardworking or you have to pass tests; however, you are missing something - money. Without money, no matter how smart and hardworking a person is, they would never, ever, get the chance...
Review: Euphoria | Stephanie Wang – Grade 11
Leonardo DiCaprio revealed he’s a fan of Euphoria, saying “I just saw Euphoria, which is amazing. That show is amazing.” Euphoria is an HBO teen drama written and created by Sam Levinson. The show has received positive reviews from critics and has won several awards...
Gen Z is annoying about being Gen Z | Sidney Chen – Grade 9
Before you call me a “boomer” or try to cancel me, read this article, because it’s time we realize that we aren’t the first generation to think that we’re going to change the world. It’s not news that Gen Z isn’t the first generation to think they're special, but it’s...
Teens should talk to their parents about their personal lives | Chloe Hsu – Grade 9
Have you ever faced a problem and didn’t know how to solve it? Then you wanted to seek advice from your parents, but felt like they'd humiliate you? Well, you’re not alone. Most teenagers do, in fact, feel this way. This is an illusion, at least in most situations,...
Family time is important for teens | Victor Lu – Grade 11
Teens are busy in their lives, but many of them tend to forget one precious activity: time with their families. Although sometimes teens gather with their families, some still stick with their phones and play on their social media accounts instead of talking to their...
Modern mobile games are trash | Felix Tsai – Grade 8
If you have used the internet at any point of time in the last decade, chances are that you’ve already been introduced to the concept of “video games”. Video games are games that a person can play through a computer, like a PC, game console, or even some calculators....
Reptiles make better pets than cats and dogs | Brenden Chen – Grade 9
People often think of reptiles as scary, poisonous, aggressive, and dangerous. Reptiles aren’t as bad as you think; lizards can also cuddle and play with you if they are well trained. Reptiles make better pets than cats and dogs - here are some reasons why. Reptiles...
Do Taiwanese parents interfere too much in their kids’ lives? | Timothie Hsiao – Grade 11
There is no doubt that every parent loves their children. However, parents might be doing things that are unintentionally detrimental. Many Taiwanese parents tend to interfere heavily in their kids' lives and it is harming kids in different ways. Parents make kids...
4 reasons why living in the city is better than living in the countryside | Victor Lu – Grade 10
Finding a place to live is vital for people’s lives, and the places where people live are likely to influence their lifestyle. People choose differently based on their preferences when they select their living places. Indeed, most people’s living places can be divided...
Students shouldn’t freak out about test scores | Vera Huang – Grade 10
Test scores - something that students care about on a daily basis - scare students every time they are announced. Parents tell students all day long: “Work harder, your grades are not good at all”, “Are you even reviewing?” and all sorts of scolding. This creates a...
The benefits of being a Taipei Teen Tribune writer | Victor Lu – Grade 10
Taipei Teen Tribune (TTT) is a special class at Englist, and students who are in this class write about the topics they care about instead of writing about topics that their teachers assign them. The primary goal of this class is to train students to write high...
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